SEC Expansion Talk: More Teams Could Mean Fewer Wins

Get used to it, because it’s going to happen. SEC expansion talk is here to stay. It’s just a matter of who and when.  

Texas A&M appears to be one of the schools. The Aggies have been rumored to make a move to the SEC since word came of Colorado and Nebraska leaving the Big 12 over a year ago. Texas starting its own network appears to be the final straw.  

The question is: Does the SEC need Texas A&M or any other school for that matter? Certainly not. At least not from a football perspective. We all know what this is about, though. Money.

A&M brings television markets of Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. That means more money for everybody. 

From a geographic and rivalry standpoint, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Florida State should be the first calls. However, none of them bring new markets. Despite this, rumors circulate that Florida State could be the 14th team.  

Whether or not the 14th team is Oklahoma, Florida State or Virginia Tech, this will have a major impact on the league. So exactly how could this money effect our favorite SEC teams on the field?

For years, teams in the SEC have had to fight through a rigorous schedule, competing for championships against teams in weaker leagues. 

With five straight national championships, the league has earned the benefit of the doubt. 

In both 2006 and 2007, an SEC team defeated an opponent with fewer losses in the national championship game (coincidentally Ohio St. both times). In doing so, the conference proved that one loss in its league isn’t equivalent to one loss in another. 

Despite what we’ve seen the last two seasons, it’s extremely difficult for a team to get through the SEC unscathed. In most years, a one loss SEC champion could defeat anyone in the country, regardless of record or conference. 

So now, with talks of adding at least two more schools with football programs the quality of Florida State and Texas A&M's, how much more difficult could it get? 

It could go from difficult to go undefeated, to virtually impossible. It might even be hard to get out of conference play with one loss.

Of course a college football playoff system would make all this talk irrelevant, but I won’t get into that. 

Under the current system, however, the pollsters and the computers have to deem a team worthy of a top-two ranking. This could become much more difficult for the voters.

Will they once again give the SEC the benefit of the doubt if the league becomes even more competitive? 

Any move the SEC makes will undoubtedly make its teams richer. How it will affect chances of continuing its run of national championships, however, is unknown.